Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced the return of Pennsylvania’s two-for-one lodging promotion, “Cabin Fever Month,” to give people a great way to get away and boost the demand for rooms in January when hotel occupancy is typically at its lowest. Reservations must be booked online at http://www.visitpa.com/.

“People looking for a great getaway don’t have to look further. Pennsylvania is offering a great promotion to help people put some fun into their winter,” Governor Rendell said. “This year, we are expanding our award- winning promotion by adding more lodging options and discounted attractions.”

This year’s “Cabin Fever Month” will include nearly 200 hotels, motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, and cabins throughout the state, all of which will offer two-for-one deals for January 2006. New this year, the promotion will also feature discounts at select attractions across the state including reduced admission to all museums operated by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

The Governor said the promotion last year filled nearly 940 rooms across Pennsylvania and drew the highest rate of online bookings, approximately 300 percent higher than the monthly average.

On the heels of the promotion’s success, Pennsylvania’s hotel occupancy during the first six months of 2005 rose 3.3 percent and rooms sold rose 4.1 percent, outpacing national averages. Overall, the state’s hotel industry enjoyed its strongest first-half period ever, according to Smith Travel Research.

A complete list of participating lodging partners and attractions is available at http://www.visitpa.com/, along with details on how to book a “Cabin Fever Month” getaway through the online booking partners Travel Hero and Webervations. To be eligible for the promotion, guests must book a room for two nights, with the second night provided free of charge. Room rates start at around $69 a night.

According to the recently released “Traveler’s Use of the Internet, 2005 Edition,” more and more consumers are planning and booking trips online. Surveys indicate that 82 percent of travelers who plan their trips online now also book reservations online. More than 64 million Americans bought or reserved an airline ticket, hotel room, rental car or package tour online this past year – up from 70 percent in 2004. The annual report was issued jointly with Travel Industry Association of America co-sponsor and contributor USDM.net.

TIA selected the Pennsylvania Tourism Office as one of 10 travel industry organizations to receive the 2005 Odyssey Awards, the premier recognition program for the tourism industry. Pennsylvania was honored for its “Cabin Fever Month” promotion. The fully integrated campaign was recognized for originality, creativity and effectiveness in reaching its goal of increasing hotel occupancy during the month of January.

Pennsylvania is the fourth-most-visited state in the country, tied with New York, with approximately 126 million visitors annually. The total impact of travelers’ spending on Pennsylvania’s economy is approximately $23 billion a year and tourism is responsible for more than 520,000 jobs.

The Pennsylvania Tourism Office, under the state Department of Community and Economic Development, is dedicated to fulfilling the needs and aspirations of travelers by presenting them with the information and resources they need to plan and enjoy the activities, attractions and destinations that are uniquely Pennsylvania. For more information about Pennsylvania’s tourism industry, go to http://www.visitpa.com/, or call (800) VISIT PA.

The Rendell Administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell’s initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/.